Mechanical musical instrument



2 Sheets-Sheet 1. (No Model.) E. H BROWN' MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT. No. 263,282. Patented Aug. 22, 1882.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

E. H. BROWN. MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT. No. 263,282. Patented Aug. 22, 1882.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWIN H. BROWN, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE TOURNA- PHONE MUSIC COMPANY, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUM EN'T.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 263,282, dated August 22, 1882.

Application tiled April 3, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, EDWIN H. BROWN, of Brooklyn, in Kings county, and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Mechanical Musical Instruments, of which the following is specification.

Myimprovementconsistsin thecombination, in a mechanical musical instrument operated Io by bellows, of a wind-chest into which air is caused to pass by the bellows, a reed-board extending into the wind-chest, a rest at the top ot' the reed-board for a traveling musicsheet, means for impelling the rest upward or outward, and means for holding the musicsheet downward or inward against the rest.

The improvement also consists in the combination, in a mechanical musical instrument operated by bellows, of a windchest into 2O which air is caused to pass by the bellows, a reed-board extending into the wind-chest, a rest for a traveling music-sheet at the top of the reed-board, rigidly connected thereto, means for impelling the reed-board and rest 2 5 upward or outward, and means for holding the music-sheet downward or inward against the rest.

The improvement further consists in the combination, in a mechanical musical instru- 3o ment operated by bellows, of a wind-chest into which air is caused to pass by the bellows, a reed-board extending into the wind-chest, a

rest fora traveling music-sheet at the top oi'.

the reed-board, a spring or springs for impelling the reed-board and rest upward or outward, and means for holding the music-sheet downward or inward against the rest.

The improvement further consists in the combination, in a mechanical musical instru- 4o ment, of a reed-board, a rest for a traveling music-sheet at the top of the reed board, guides for the reed-board, a spring or springs for impelling the reed-board and rest upward or outward, and means for holding the music- 4 5 sheet downward or inward against the rest.

The improvement further consists in the combination, in a mechanical musical instrument, of a reed-board, a rest for a traveling music-sheet at the top of the reed-board, guides in and communicating with the wind-chest, a

iiexible connection between the reed-board and wind-chest, a rest at the top of the reed-board for a traveling music-sheet, means for impelling the reed-board and rest upward or outward, and means for holding the music-sheet downward or inward against the rest.

The improvement further consists in the combination, in a mechanical musical instrument, of a wind-chest, a reedboard, a frame in which it is detachably arranged, a rest for a traveling music-sheet at the top of the reedboard, a iiexible connection between the frame and the wind-chest, means acting on the frame for impelling the reed-board and rest upward or outward, and means for holding the traveling music-sheet downward or inward against the rest.

The improvement further consists in the combination, in a mechanical musical instrument, of a wind chest, a reed-board, a frame in which the reed board is detachably arranged, a rest for a traveling music-sheet at the top of the reed-board, a flexible connection between the wind chest and the said frame, means acting on the frame for impelling the reed-board and rest upward or outward, stops for limiting the movement of the said frame, and means for holding the music-sheet downward or inward against the rest.

The improvement further consists in the combination, in a mechanical musical instrument operated by bellows, of a wind-chest into which air is caused to pass by the bellows, a movable reed-board extending into the wind-chest, and having at the top a rest for a traveling music-sheet, means for impelling it upward or outward, and a bar or aroller or rollers for holding the music-sheet downward or inward against the rest.

The improvement further consists in the combination, in a mechanical musical instrument operated by bellows, of `a wind-chest into which air is caused to pass by the bellows,

a reed-board extending into the wind-chest, a rest for a traveling music-sheet at the top of the reed-board, means forimpelling the rest upward or outward, means for holding the music-'sheet downward or inward againstthe rest, and bellows for causing air to pass through the said reed-board in such direction that it will leave it at the top or outer side.

The improvement further consists in the combination, in a mechanical musical instrument, of a reed-board, a rest at the top of the reed-board for a traveling music-sheet, means for impelling the reed-board and rest upward or outward, a hollow bar hinged to a support at one end and adapted tobear on the musicsheet over the rest, suction-bellows arranged below the reed-board, and means establishing communication between the bellows and the said bar.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of a mechanical musical instrument embodying my improvement. Fig. 2 is a sectional perspective view of the reed-board and other parts adjacent thereto. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the feed-rollers and certain parts adj acent thereto. Fig. 4 is a transverse section of a mechanical musical instrument of modified form embodying the improvement, and Fig. 5 is a vertical longitudinal section of such instrument.

Similar letters of referencedesignate corresponding parts in all'the figures.

A designates the body of the instrument. It may be mounted on legs a, and it comprises a wind-chest, B, into which air is caused to pass by the bellows.

G designates a receiver or equalizer, of bellows-like construction, arranged on the under side of the instrument and communicating therewith. A spring, O', tends to collapse it in this example of my invention. Preferably it has a reliefvalve,(l2, applied to its exterior, so that in case an excessive pressure of air is created it will have a vent without doing any damage or producing any undesirable results. This valve may be hinged in place and kept closed by a spring, b.

D designates bellows, which in this example of my invention are three in number. and are of the kind known as force-bellows. They are arranged below the wind-chest, and communicate therewith through holes e under control of valves d, which preclude air forced into the wind-chest from returning to the bellows. These bellows may be operated by any suitable means-as, for instance, by a shaft provided with cranks connected directly or by l linksto the bellows,and operated by a pitman 'rod or rods extending to a crank or cranks on it from a' crank or cranks on one of the feedrollers, presently tobe described. This method of operating bellowsis in common use, and so well known that I deem it unnecessary to illustrate it or further describe it here.

E isithe reed-board,which extends into the wind-chest.v It may be of the usual or any other suitable form, provided with separate and independent cells for several reeds communieating with a rest,'F, for a traveling musicsheet, G, by means of suitable apertures or ducts. As here shown, the reeds occupy horizontal positions;` but obviously they may be arranged in vertical. positions, with their heels close to the rest F, if desirable. The reedcells communicate with the interior cf the Wind-chestB.

The reed-chest, as here shown, is arranged in a frame, H. ,Preferably it has all around it a lip, e, faced on the under side with a packingvof. leather, felt, or other suitable material, and titting within a recess in the top of the frame H, as then leakage between it and the frame will be avoided, or, to say the least, reduced to a minimum. The reed-board is secured in place in the frame H'by any suitable means-as, forinstance, by metal buttons f, pivoted to the frame and adapted to overlap the lip e. The frame H is connected to the top'of the wind-chest B by means of any suitably exible material S, which is practically impervious to air. vSheep-skin orindia-rubber cloth will serve the purpose well. The flexible connection enables the reed-board to move upward or outward and downward or inward. Any suitable means may be employed to press or force the reed-board constantly upward or outward. Ihave shown for this purpose springs g, acting on the frame H. These springs may,

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however, act directly on the reed-board, and

the frame H may be dispensed with if a flexible connection between the reed-board and the top of the wind-chest is made. Indeed, such a connection is in el'ect made in this example of my invention, although not directly, and the springs in reality here act on the reed-board, although indirectly.

The principal object of employing the frame H is to enable the reed-board to be readily and easily removed when desirable for any reason-as, for instance, to obtain access to the reeds. Preferably I employ, in conjunction with the frame H, stops for limiting its movements, so that such movements will entail no strain ou the flexible connection. As here shown, the bottom of the wind-chest forms a stop whereby the downward movement is limited. Itsupwardmovementislimitedbyhooks h, inserted in the bottom of the wind-chest, and on which work metal plates t', attached Yto the frame H. These hooks h and plates t' also guide the reed-board in its movements.

The traveling music-sheet G consists of a strip of perforated paper or other suitable inateral, and it is guided over the rest F by means of guide-rails I, which preferably are set inward of the sides of the body ofthe instrument, so as to lap over the exible connection between the ends of the frame H and the windchest, for then the music-sheet can be materially narrowed. The rest F is at the apex of the reed-board, and is preferably slightly con- IOS veX. It will be observed that it projects considerably above. the top of the wind-chest. This is especially desirable when the means for holding the music-sheet down against the rest consist of rollers or bars arranged over the top ofthe wind-chest. I have shown two rollers, J K, for this purpose. They are arl ranged in frames' or supports JK, which are hinged at one end to'one of the guide-rails I and fastened at the other end b v catchesj on the other guide-rail. The rollerJ is one ot the feed-rollers, and its fellow feed-roller, L, is arranged below it and supported in bearingblocks 7s, which are susceptible ot an up and down movement. Springs l, acting on the bearing-block 7c, impel the roller up against the roller J, so that the two will grip the musicsheet properly. Preferably these rollers will be covered wlth india-rubber or like material. The rollers J K could of course be arranged over the rest F near the side edges, and in this case the roller L, could be supported in bearings rigidly attached to the rest or to the frame H, for the springsg would then raise the roller toward the roller J.

M designates a bar, which is at one end hinged to one of the guide-rails I, and at the other is fastened by a spring-catch similar to those employed to fasten the free ends of the frames J K', which carry the rollers J K. This bar serves as a means for holding the musicsheet against the rest, and has through it ducts corresponding to the apertures or ducts in the rest F.

In Figs. 4 and 5 I have shown the reed-board E as arranged in a separate wind-chest, B', formed by partitions c in the windchest B, and communicating by holes b with the atmosphere. The two parts ofthe wind-chest B are connected by a trunk or passage,c, so that they form one chest. The bar M is shown as having a single cavity or passage communieating through a passage, m, with the trunk or passage c and through the latter with the wind-chest B. At the hinged end of the bar M there is a packing, n, of leather, felt, or other suitable material to obviate leakage. This modification of the invention is designed for use with suction-bellows. All the changes that will be necessary in the other parts ot the instrument will be to put the valves of the bellows on their outside instead of their inside, to arrange the valves d on the under side of the bottom ofthe wind-chest instead of on the upper side, and to adapt the spring C to pull the equalizer C outward instead of to force it inward. Obviously the air will pass through the reed-board and rest in the same direction as before; but the air enters thc reed-board from the wind-chest B.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. In a mechanical musical instrument operated by bellows, the combination of a windchcst into which airis caused to pass by the bellows, a reed-board extending into the windchest, a rest at the top ot' the reed-board forv a traveling music-sheet, means for impelling the rest upward or outward, and means for holding the music-sheet downward or inward against the rest, substantially as specified.

.2. In a mechanical musicalinstrument operated by bellows, the combination of a windchest into which air is caused to pass by the bellows, a reed-board extending into the windchest a rest for a traveling music-sheet at the top of the reed-board, rigidly connected thereto, means for impelling the reed-board and rest upward or outward, and means for holding the music-sheet downward or inward against the rest, substantially as specified.

3. lIn a mechanical musical instrument op erated by bellows, the combination of a windchest into which air is caused to pass by the bellows, a reed-board extending into the windchest, a rest for a.- traveling music-sheet at the top of the reed-board, a spring or springs for impelling the `reed-board and rest upward or outward, and means for holding the musicsheet downward or inward against the rest, substantially as specified.

4. In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination of a reed-board, a rest for a traveling music-sheet at the top of the reed-board, guides for the reed-board, a spring or springs for impelling the reed-board and rest upward or outward, and means for holding the musicsheet downward or inward against the rest, substantially as specified.

5. In a mechanical musical instrument, the

combination of a reed-board, a rest for a travcling music-sheet at the top ofthe reed-board, guides and stops for the reed-board, a spring or springs for impelling the reed-board and rest upward or outward, and means for holding the music-sheet downward or inward against the rest, substantially as specified. 6. In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination of a wind-chest, a reed-board arranged in and communicating wlth the windchest,`a exible connection between the reedboard and wind-chest, a rest at the top ofthe reed-board for a traveling music-sheet, means for impelling the reed-board and rest upward or outward, and means for holding the musicsheet downward orinward against the rest, substantially as specified.

7. In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination of a wind-chest, a reed-board, a frame in which it is detachablyarranged, a rest for a traveling music-sheet at the top of the reed-board, a iieXible connection between the frame and the wind-chest, means acting on the frame for impelling the reed-board and rest upward or outward, and means for holding the traveling music-sheet downward or inward against the rest, substantially as specified.

8. In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination of a wind-chest, a reed-board, a frame in which the reed-board is detachably arranged, a rest for a traveling music-sheet at the top ofthe reed-board, a flexible connection between the wind-chest and the said frame, means acting on the frame for impelling the IOO IOS

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reed-board and rest upward or outward, stops for limiting the movement of the said frame, and means for holding the music-sheet dowuward or inward against the rest, substantially as specified.

9. In a mechanical musical instrument operated by bellows, the combination ot' a windchest into which air :is caused to pass by the bellows7 a movable reed-board extending into the wind-chest, and having at the top a rest for a traveling music-sheet, means for impelling it upward or outward, and a bar or a roller or rollers for holding the music-sheet downward or inward against the rest, substantially as specified.

10. In a mechanical musical instrument operated by bellows, the combination of a windchest into which air is caused to pass by the bellows, a reed-board extending into the windchest, a rest for a traveling music-sheet at the top of the reed-board, means for impelling the restupward or outward, means for holding the music-sheet downward or inward against the rest, and bellows for causing airto pass through the said reed-board in such direction that it4 and the said bar, substantially as specified.

EDWIN H. BROWN.

Witnesses: A

T. J. KEANE, J AMES R. BOWEN. 

